musical culture from South Asia and the Diaspora

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Prophets and Saints: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

An old favorite’s on the play list tonight. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s 1994 album for Real World, The Last Prophet.

“This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed my favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” These are also supposed to be the last verses revealed to Muhammad (PBUH) before his death in 632 CE.

The concept that Muhammad (PBUH) is the final of God’s great prophets, a concept known as Khatam an-Nabiyyin (The Seal of the Prophets), is one of the pillars of Islamic faith. And it is a celebration of this belief that Nusrat and party open the album with. A mighty paen to the two great centers of ultimate sacredness, Mecca and Medina. Maki Madni starts slowly but builds with repeated descriptions of the greatness of the Prophet, repeating Khatam-e-rasool (Seal of the Prophets) there is none like you (tumsa koi nahi) as the qawwali builds in ecstatic exuberance.

While there will no more Prophets on Earth, there are many Saints who deserve mentioning. One in particular is the 12th Punjabi saint, Hazrat Fariduddin Masud Ganjshakar revered as Baba Farid (Grandfather Farid) throughout Pakistan and northern India. Ganj-e-Shakar is the 22 minute center piece of the album. Nusrat extols his love for the ancient holy man in a tender way, repeatedly calling him ‘mine’ and comparing him to gold, mountains and oceans. He also tells many of the stories of Bab Farid’s miracles ultimately concluding he is bemisaal, incomparable.

Fantastic qawwali that will have you keeping the record on repeat for days.